Sept 2019 - Sustainable Gardening in a Coastal Community

Coastal Landscaping Initiative teams are working to increase awareness and availability of native plants and sustainable landscaping practices, and to develop demonstration gardens in coastal communities.  The goal is to foster landscapes that are not only beautiful, but also resilient to coastal impacts.

CLI team members Rachel Veal and Kathy Mitchell will talk about how this initiative can benefit residential and commercial landscaping on the Outer Banks and mainland coastal communities.

https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/program-areas/healthy-ecosystems/coastal-landscapes/

May 2019 - Nature Out Loud - performs for OBX Green Drinks

Paul Mazzei is a local marine science educator and musician based out of Kill Devil Hills. He’s been leading music for children's programs since 2004 in lots of different settings.  He’s certified through the NC office of Environmental Education and has a Master’s in Science Education from UC Berkeley. 

His band, Nature Out Loud formed in 2017 and is:

Andrew Darling - bass

Rick Eller - percussion, harmonica, back up vocals

Paul Mazzei - lead vocals, guitar, songwriter 

Brian Postelle - guitar, backup vocals

Maddy Van Middlesworth - steel drums, melodica, backup vocals

Nature Out Loud’s  programs strive to help people gain an appreciation of music and learn some cool science along the way. They do original songs with a wide range of nature topics. They encourage crowd participation by first teaching the songs and having some associated hand motions/dance moves to go a long with the song. Paul also often provides little mini-lessons on each topic. This is a great "STEAM" program for schools, hitting both Science and the Arts. They have led successful music programs for kids from pre-k all the way up through adults. Nature Out Loud’s goal is to help people form a connection with the critters thru sing about that will lead to curiosity and eventually conservation. 

April 2019 - Unearthing the Secrets of Fulgurites

photo courtesy of E. Scott Bair

GUEST SPEAKER: E. Scott Bair
Scott is a former geology professor at Ohio State University and moved to the OBX 5 years ago. In retirement, he fulfills his geekiness by collecting and analyzing fulgurites.   

Two types of fulgurites (lightning glass) are found on the Outer Banks. They form when lightning strikes clean silica sand. We will learn how fulgurites form, what heat-flow activities create the features seen on specimens, and what are better times and locations for finding them.

* Bring a favorite specimen so we can mutually share the serendipity of beach combing. It’ll also be a good test to see if Scott knows what he’s talking about!

March 2019 - The Fine Art of Reuse

Seagreen Gallery is a unconventional artistic retail shop filled with items that exemplify sustainability.  Join us as Lara Parks discusses the "art of reuse," and the ups and downs of running an environmentally conscious business where up 40% of the goods are crafted by the family that owns, and lives above, the gallery in Nags Head.  

GUEST SPEAKER: Lara Parks

                             Gallery Assistant  

                             Sea Green Gallery 

February 2019 - Sex in the Sea - a Love Story ?

February 13, 2019 

  

Guest Speaker: Terri Kirby Hathaway, M.A. Ed.

                            Marine Education Specialist

                            North Carolina Sea Grant

If you've ever wondered  how marine and estuarine animals 

reproduce, then this is your lucky night! Discover how, when, 

and where common marine creatures spawn while learning 

some new words for our vocabulary with a bingo-type game.

After the program, we'll play "Who's Your Daddy" matching

pictures of adult and larval stages!  Bring your curiosity and be 

ready to enjoy yourselves while learning the language of love 

for these species.

January 2019 - Bird Shacks

Photo courtesy of  Perqimans Art Council 

January 9, 2019 - GUEST SPEAKER - Kenny Jones

Popular local artist Kenny Jones will discuss how he gathers recycled materials and makes his Bird Shacks. Whether armed with a chain saw cutting swamp wood, stripping barns for metal roofing, tearing down old decks, or dumpster diving for bottles, he has a keen eye for his needed product. He builds and sells about 325 houses and feeders a year. “Birdman” is often at garden shows, farmers markets, and craft shows around the area.   

December 2018 Saving The Horses of Kings - CANCELLED

Photo courtesy of: Corolla Wid Horse Fund 

GUESTS: Corolla Wild Horse Fund
                 Jo Langone,COO 
                 Meg Puckett, Herd Mgr.

We are very excited to welcome two special guests from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Come visit with Jo Langone,COO and Meg Puckett, Herd Manager as they share what it takes to preserve and protect one of the hottest tourist attractions on the Outer Banks. Working tirelessly, they have made tremendous progress in creating state, national, and international awareness regarding the historic importance of the Banker Colonial Spanish Mustang and the pressing need to preserve and protect them.


CANCELLED - One of the most revered stallions, Roamer, fell ill on this day and now runs free with his Thunder Herd in the spirit world, RIP - January 14th.   

NOVEMBER 2018 - Bat Chat - Turning Myths Upside Down

    Guest Speaker - Marrissa Bijarro 

    Citizen Science and Conservation Specialist at NCWRC

Photo of tri-colored bat courtesy of NCWRC

  

Interested in learning more about bats? Well then, join Marissa Bijarro, the Citizen Science and Conservation Specialist with NCWRC, as we dive into interesting facts about bats as well as dispel the many myths surrounding them. Bats’ natural habitats are in decline and many species are fighting the deadly disease known as White Nose Syndrome. Learn how you can help bats in your own backyard by planting a bat garden or putting up a bat house!